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Chapter 224: Analysis and Planning
Chapter 224: Analysis and Planning (Please Subscribe, Favorite, and Recommend)
After mentioning Buckbeak, Hagrid noticed the cage in Liam's hand and asked, "What's wrong with your mouse?"
"Oh, this is Ron's pet", Liam said, opening the cage and handing Scabbers to Hagrid. "This mouse seems a lot thinner than before and isn't as lively. I've tried a few methods to treat it, but they only slowed down its rapid decline. I don't know anyone else who understands animals as well as you do, so I thought you might have some ideas."
"Let me take a look." Hagrid's large hand took Scabbers, and he examined it. "It looks like it's had quite a bit of rough treatment in the past." Hagrid ran his fingers over Scabbers' head and paws. "See, its ear has been torn, and it's missing a claw on its front paw."
"By the way, how old is this mouse?" Hagrid asked Liam after his inspection.
"From what I know, this used to be Percy's pet. It should be about seven or eight years old", Liam said uncertainly.
"Seven or eight years? That's quite a miracle. You see, ordinary mice usually only live for about three years. However, there are always exceptions. This mouse might just be one of them. But even if it is exceptionally long-lived, it's probably reaching the end of its life. I suggest you give it some wormwood or something similar. It's not good for mice, but it will at least make its last days more comfortable", Hagrid concluded.
"Alright, thanks." Liam put Scabbers back in the cage. After discussing a few more things, Liam and Hermione said their goodbyes and left Hagrid's hut.
When they returned to the Common Room, Hermione suddenly said to Liam, "Go put the cage away first. I need to talk to you about something."
Liam nodded and quickly returned the cage to his dormitory. When he came back to the Common Room, he found Hermione sitting in a corner, waiting for him.
As soon as he sat down across from her, Hermione asked, "What exactly is that Weasley's mouse?"
"How did you figure it out?" Liam asked.
"Others might think the things wrapped around your cage are just exotic decorations, but I've seen you use those pretty stones with strange runes to turn those zombies to ash. If one stone can take out such terrifying zombies, I don't think a normal mouse would need a dozen of those stones wrapped around its cage."
"Alright, you've been observant. I suspect the mouse might be a wizard."
"What?" Hermione couldn't control her volume, and a few students in the Common Room turned to look at her. She quickly lowered her voice. "Why do you think that?"
"It was actually an accident", Liam explained, recounting the story he had prepared. "You know I have some magic that isn't taught at school. The first day I got Scabbers, I used a soul-targeting hypnosis spell on it, and it fell asleep right away."
"A hypnosis spell making it fall asleep is normal", Hermione said, puzzled.
"But the spell was designed for human souls. According to theory, it shouldn't have affected an animal", Liam explained. "I tried similar magic a few times, and the conclusion is that this mouse is likely a transformed human."
Hermione's mouth opened in shock, and Liam paused before continuing. "Today, at Hagrid's, I became even more certain. A non-magical creature like a regular mouse living for so long is highly unusual."
"So, that Mouse might actually be a Wizard in disguise? Being able to live as a Mouse for several years suggests that this Wizard can't reveal their true identity. In that case, it's likely a criminal in the Wizarding world using this method to hide. Oh no, what should we do now?" Hermione said, her face tense with worry.
"I even have a suspicion about who this Mouse might be, but I need to confirm it with someone." Liam glanced at the Common Room and then called out to a tall, red-haired boy, "Percy, I have a question for you."
Percy quickly finished his conversation and walked over, "Hi, Liam, Hermione. What are you two up to?"
"We're discussing something. You know Ron's Mouse that's been staying with me for treatment? We've noticed something, well, unusual about it", Liam replied.
"That Mouse? It used to be my pet. I can answer some questions for you", Percy said.
"It used to be your pet? That's great. Could you tell me when it first came to your family and what it looked like when it arrived?"
"Well, the pet was first brought home by my father. He gave it to our eldest brother Bill, then to me when I started school. When I got a new Owl, I passed it on to my younger brother Ron. So, it's been with our family for twelve years. Goodness, I never realized Scabbers had lived so long", Percy said, clearly surprised as he recalled the details.
"As for what it looked like when it first arrived, my father found a Mouse in our garden. I remember it clearly—it had an injured ear and was missing a claw on one of its front paws. Looking back, none of us ever imagined that this Mouse, which was covered in wounds, would live so long", Percy concluded.
Liam and Hermione exchanged glances, both seeing a mix of surprise in each other's eyes. Hermione was genuinely surprised, while Liam was only pretending to be.
Percy, noticing the exchange, asked, "What exactly did you find out about Scabbers?"
"Hermione said, "This might sound crazy, but your Mouse might actually be a human."
"How is that possible?" Percy looked incredulous.
"It's true", Liam said. "Today, when we took Scabbers to Hagrid, he told us that a common house mouse usually only lives for about three years."
"Well, maybe our Mouse just has a longer lifespan", Percy stammered, clearly shocked.
"A lifespan one or two years longer might be normal, but four times the usual lifespan is definitely not. If we compare it to a human, Scabbers would be the equivalent of Nicolas Flamel among mice, but it doesn't have the Philosopher's Stone or the Elixir of Life", Hermione added.
Percy's face turned pale, as anyone would if they found out they had been sharing a bed with a stranger for years.
At that moment, Liam continued, "And based on what Percy just said, I have a pretty good idea who this Mouse might be."
"Who?" Percy and Hermione asked in unison.
"Peter Pettigrew, the man who was supposedly killed by Sirius Black."
(End of Chapter)
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